Hypogastric supporter



Feb, H, 1936. B. F. PEASE HYPOGASTRIC SUPPORTER Filed Feb. 1, 1933 EASE IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

plate having spring frame members adapted to encircle the hip portion of the body to hold the padded plate in forced contact with the abdomen and to provide elastic means for securing the frame members to the plate whereby the same may be comfortably wornwithout materially interfering with the freedom of action of the wearer.

Other objects are to provide a device of the character above indicated which may be manufactured at a low cost; which may be quickly and conveniently attached or taken from the body; which will be very durable and which will fit snugly against the body and will not cause an appreciable bulge in the clothing of the wearer.

An additional object is to provide a hypogastric plate or pad having frame members connected thereto by flexible, elastic means capable of being elongated, compressed or otherwise distorted to permit a relative movement in every direction between the plate and the frame member, and to provide connecting means which will possess a yieldable resistance to such movement whereby the parts may be subjected to an extreme movement without an abrupt stop.

In the accompanying drawing there is illustrated an adaptation of the invention which will accomplish the purposes above set forth; it being understood that changes and modifications may be made or resort had to substitutions which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

The various figures of the drawing may be briefly described as follows:-

Figure 1 is a front, elevational view of a hypogastric supporting device constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a plan View of same,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 3-3 of Figure 4 and illustrating my improved means for securing a pad or plate to a frame member.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View of a portion of a supporting device constructed in accordance with this invention, the same showing the particular means employed in attaching the frame member to the supporting plate.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of the invention with reference to the particular adaptation thereof disclosed in the drawing, the numeral 5 is used generally to denote a supporting plate or pad which may be of any desired shape or contour and may be composed of any suitable material. The particular form of plate illustrated comprises a thin metal plate 5a which is preferably composed of aluminum or other relatively stiff, light weight material. The inner face of the plate is covered with suitable cushioning material 5b which is retained in place by a layer of flexible sheet material, preferably leather 5c. The outer face of the plate 5 is preferably covered with a layer 5d of leather or other suitable material.

The numeral 6 denotes frame members which are secured to the forward side of the plate 5 to extend in opposite directions therefrom.

The frame members 6 are curved to encircle the hip portions of the body with the rear ends of the frame member 6 presented toward each other. A forwardly presented pad I is secured to the rear end portion of each frame 6. In the particular adaptation of the invention shown in the drawing, each frame member 6 is composed of a flexible steel spring 6a. having a leather sheath 6b and having a layer of padding 60 on the inner side of the spring 6a. A block 8 is secured to the forward end of each spring Ed by means of rivets 9 or other suitable fastening means.

The numeral 911 denotes a plate which is positioned against the under side of the block 8 and which is secured thereto by means of the rivets 9 for securely holding the spring member 6a to the block 8. The flexible block 8 is secured to the plate or pad 5 by means of the screws in which are positioned through suitable openings therein and threaded in suitable bores in the plates 5a. The plate !2 is positioned against the outer side of the block 8 to receive the screws l0 whereby the said block 8 is securely held in position against the forward side of the plate 5. As the block 8 is composed of elastic material, the frame members may thus be moved in every direction as shown by the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2.

As the block 8 is composed of relatively stiff elastic rubber the inherent nature of the material of which the block is composed will afford a yielding resistance against bending or distortion, but will permit the frame members to be moved in any direction relative to the pad 5.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a pad having simple, efficient means for flexibly connecting a frame member thereto whereby the frame members will be capable of movement in any direction, including a limited longitudinal movement thereby providing a device which will be more efficient in use and which can be more comfortably worn than any device of a like character heretofore known.

Having thus illustrated my invention and described the same in detail, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a padded, rigid plate, two frame members, a flexible rubber block secured to each frame member and projecting beyond the forward end thereof and means securing the forwardly projecting portion of each of said blocks to said plate.

2. In a hypogastric supporter, a rigid plate, a cushion covering the inner face thereof, spring frame members, a flat block of elastic rubber secured to the forward end of each frame member and projecting beyond the forward end thereof and means securing the forward projecting end portions of each of said blocks to the forward face of said plate and a pad on the free end of each frame member.

3. In a hypogastric supporter, a plate provided with an inwardly bulged area, material covering the inner face of said plate, frame members for holding said plate in forced contact with the abdominal regions of the body and flexible means for securing the forward end of each frame memher to the forward face of said plate, said means comprising a rubber block normally positioned flat against said plate and having one end portion thereof secured to the frame member and the other end portion thereof secured to said plate.

BENJAMIN F. PEASE. 

